Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for September 2011. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Topiramate Effective in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
FRIDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Topiramate effectively improves avoidance/numbing symptom clusters and re-experiencing of symptoms in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a study published in the October issue of CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Aspirin Resistance Is Relatively Common Phenomenon
FRIDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Aspirin resistance is common, but poor compliance may contribute to a substantial number of cases of apparent resistance, according to a study published in the October issue of Cardiovascular Therapeutics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Activated Protein C Inhibitor Effective in Hemophilia A
FRIDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Specific activated protein C (APC) inhibitor PNASN-1 significantly increases thrombin generation in the blood and plasma of individuals with congenital hemophilia A, with and without factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Surfactants Feasible for Self-Breathing Preterm Infants
FRIDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Application of surfactant to spontaneously breathing preterm infants stabilized with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is feasible, and reduces the need for mechanical ventilation, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Single High-Dose Psilocybin Linked to Increase in Openness
FRIDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- A single dose of psilocybin is sufficient to produce significant increases in the personality domain of openness, which persists after a year, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Tamoxifen Use Tied to Diabetes Risk in Breast Cancer Survivors
FRIDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Current tamoxifen therapy is associated with a significantly increased incidence of diabetes in older breast cancer survivors, according to a study published online Sept. 20 in Cancer.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
SSRI With Antiplatelet Therapy Ups Post-MI Bleeding Risk
THURSDAY, Sept. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Combined use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) with antiplatelet agents, including acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), clopidogrel, or both, is associated with an increased risk of bleeding following acute myocardial infarction (MI), according to a study published online Sept. 26 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text
Slow, Steady Rise in Stimulant Use for ADHD Since 1996
THURSDAY, Sept. 29 (HealthDay News) -- The use of stimulant medications for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has increased consistently since 1996, with greater use in adolescents and decreasing use in preschoolers, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Cytisine More Effective Than Placebo for Smoking Cessation
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Cytisine is more effective for smoking cessation than a placebo, with a better 12-month abstinence rate and seven-day point prevalence of abstinence, according to a study published in the Sept. 29 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
DNA Repair Capacity IDs Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Survival
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- DNA repair capacity (DRC) in peripheral lymphocytes is a significant, independent predictor of survival for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with platinum-based chemotherapy, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Increasing Dose of Saw Palmetto No Better Than Placebo in BPH
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Saw palmetto fruit extract (Serenoa repens) at doses up to three times the standard daily dose has no greater effect than placebo on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) attributable to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), according to a study published the Sept. 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
DMARDs Found to Be Effective Treatment for Juvenile Arthritis
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may be more effective than ibuprofen or steroids in controlling juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), but there is little strong evidence to support their long-term use, according to a new report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
More Information
Quadrivalent HPV Vaccine More Cost-Effective Than Bivalent
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Due to different efficacy and protection offered by the bivalent and quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, the bivalent vaccine would need to be cheaper than the quadrivalent in order to be equally cost-effective, according to a study published online Sept. 27 in BMJ.
Abstract
Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Cognition Similar for Standard, Intensive Glycemic Control
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Intensive glycemic lowering is not better than standard glycemic control for preventing cognitive decline in patients with type 2 diabetes, despite a higher total brain volume, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in The Lancet Neurology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Calcineurin-Inhibitor-Sparing Regimens Improve Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Use of calciuneurin-inhibitor-sparing regimens immediately after kidney transplantation is associated with improved outcomes, including less delayed graft function, improved graft function, and less new-onset diabetes, according to a meta-analysis published online Sept. 23 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Benefits, Harms With Off-Label Atypical Antipsychotic Use
TUESDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- There are varying benefits and adverse effects from using atypical antipsychotic medications for conditions which do not have labeling and marketing approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (off-label), according to a meta-analysis published in the Sept. 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Cell of Origin Key in Relapsed B-Cell Lymphoma Prognosis
TUESDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with relapsed/refractory germinal center B (GCB)-like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have improved outcomes when treated with rituximab, dexamethasone, high-dose cytarabine, and cisplatin (R-DHAP), according to a study published online Sept. 26 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
ESR1 Expression Predicts Tamoxifen Benefit in Breast CA
TUESDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Expression of ESR1 predicts tamoxifen benefit in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, with low levels of expression indicative of tamoxifen resistance, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Asthma Prevalence Elevated in Youth With Diabetes
TUESDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Asthma is more prevalent in youth with diabetes compared to the general U.S. population, and is associated with poor glycemic control in youth with type 1 diabetes, especially if untreated, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Tdap Safe After Tetanus-, Diphtheria-Containing Products
MONDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- The use of tetanus toxoid, reduced-content diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) is safe, with no excess reactogenecity and no need for caution regarding Tdap use within any interval of a tetanus- or diphtheria-containing toxoid product, according to a policy statement published online Sept. 26 in Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text
Remicade Approved for Ulcerative Colitis in Children
MONDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Remicade (infliximab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat moderate-to-severe active episodes of ulcerative colitis in children aged six and older who haven't responded to other therapies.
Medline Plus
Updated Guides Compare Treatments for GERD
MONDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Updated, evidence-based, reader-friendly reports comparing treatments for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to help guide patient and physician decision-making in treating this condition that affects up to 4 percent of Americans.
More Information
GLCCI1 SNP Lowers Response to Inhaled Steroids in Asthma
MONDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Expression of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at rs37973 correlates with decreased glucocorticoid-induced transcript 1 gene (GLCCI1) expression, which is associated with a reduced response to inhaled glucocorticoids in patients with asthma, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with late-breaking presentations at the European Respiratory Society Congress, held from Sept. 24 to 28 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Abstract
Full Text
Editorial
Adjuvant Zoledronic Acid Not Beneficial in Breast Cancer
MONDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with early-stage breast cancer, the addition of zoledronic acid to standard adjuvant therapy does not offer any benefit for disease-free or overall survival, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation at the 2011 European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress, held from Sept. 23 to 27 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
Full Text
Generic Tacrolimus Safe for Liver, Kidney Recipients
MONDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who have undergone liver or kidney transplants may safely switch from brand-name to generic tacrolimus with no change in the indices of liver or kidney function or rejection, according to a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Transplantation.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Evidence for Nondrug Childhood Constipation Therapies Limited
MONDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Although there is a lack of high-quality evidence for nonpharmacologic treatments for childhood constipation, there is some evidence of effectiveness of fiber supplements, but not for effectiveness of fluid supplements, prebiotics, probiotics, or behavioral interventions, according to a review published online Sept. 26 in Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Therapy Ups Pancreatitis Risk
FRIDAY, Sept. 23 (HealthDay News) -- The use of exenatide and sitagliptin for type 2 diabetes is associated with a higher odds ratio of pancreatitis and increased reports of pancreatic cancer, according to a study published in the July issue of Gastroenterology.
Abstract
Full Text
Editorial
FDA Expands Age Indication for Boostrix
THURSDAY, Sept. 22 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded the age indications for Boostrix, the tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap), to include people 65 and older, according to an article published in the Sept. 23 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Full Text
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Safe, Effective in Pulmonary Fibrosis
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 21 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, treatment with 150 mg of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor BIBF 1120 twice daily is safe, reduces lung function decline with fewer acute exacerbations, and preserves quality of life, according to a study published in the Sept. 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Rotavirus Vaccine Introduction Cut Health Care Use, Costs
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Since the introduction of rotavirus vaccine (RV5) in 2006, diarrhea-related health care utilization and medical expenditures for U.S. children younger than 5 years old decreased considerably in the rotavirus seasons, according to a study published in the Sept. 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Age, Treating Physician Tied to Pediatric Psoriasis Treatment
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment for pediatric psoriasis varies according to treating physician and children's age, according to a study published online Sept. 19 in the Archives of Dermatology.
Abstract
Full Text
F1+2, VEGF, D-Dimer Levels Up in Nonallergic Asthma
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with nonallergic asthma exhibit autoreactivity as well as increased levels of coagulation and angiogenesis markers, according to a study published in the October issue of Allergy.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
2006/2007 U.S. Flu Vaccination Policy Lowers Morbidity
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 21 (HealthDay News) -- The 2006/2007 influenza vaccination policy change in the United States to include healthy children aged 24 to 59 months has reduced influenza morbidity in the United States, as evident by reduction in the emergency department visits in the United States versus Canada, according to a study published in the Sept. 20 issue of the CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Mortality Up in Hospitals With More Minority Trauma Patients
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 21 (HealthDay News) -- The odds of in-hospital mortality for trauma patients are associated with the proportion of minority patients in the hospital, according to a study published online Sept. 19 in the Archives of Surgery.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Cognitive Behavior Therapy, SRIs Improve OCD Treatment
TUESDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) together with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) is a better treatment for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) than medication management alone, according to a study published in the Sept. 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Progression-Free Survival Not Tied to R-CHOP Dose Density
TUESDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- There is no significant difference in progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with indolent B-cell lymphoma treated with rituximab with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CHOP) along with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) every three weeks (R-CHOP-21) or every two weeks (R-CHOP-14), according to a study published online Sept. 19 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text
Editorial
Mycophenolate Mofetil Safe, Effective for Refractory Lupus
TUESDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in conjunction with standard therapy is well tolerated and effective for the treatment of antimalarial-resistant cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Payer Status Affects Health Care Quality and Outcomes
TUESDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with heart failure who have no insurance, or have Medicaid or Medicare, have lower quality of care and worse outcomes than those with private/health maintenance organization (HMO) insurance, according to a study published in the Sept. 27 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Lower Sudden Death Risk With Add-On Antiepileptic Therapy
TUESDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with refractory epilepsy who are treated with adjunctive antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) at efficacious doses may have lower incidence of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) compared with those receiving a placebo, according to a meta-analysis published online Sept. 20 in The Lancet Neurology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Tasquinimod Ups Castration-Resistant Prostate CA Survival
TUESDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- In men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), treatment with tasquinimod (TASQ) significantly delays disease progression and improves progression-free survival (PFS) with an acceptable adverse event (AE) profile, according to a study published online Sept. 19 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Prolia Approval Expanded to Fracture Prevention in Cancer
MONDAY, Sept. 19 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded approval for the Amgen bone-building drug Prolia (denosumab) to include prostate cancer or breast cancer patients who are taking certain hormonal therapies.
more
Enoxaparin Bests Unfractionated Heparin in Occlusive PAD
MONDAY, Sept. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Intravenous enoxaparin is safe and more effective than unfractionated heparin (UFH) for treating peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), according to a study published online Sept. 12 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Fluoroquinolones Up Risk of Post-Biopsy Acute Prostatitis
FRIDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- In patients who undergo transrectal prostate biopsy, prior use of fluoroquinolones is the most significant risk factor for developing post-procedure acute prostatitis, according to a study published in the September issue of Urology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Child Self-Exposure to Meds Explains Most Drug Poisoning
FRIDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Child self-exposure to prescription medications was responsible for 95 percent of the cases of pediatric pharmaceutical poisonings between 2001 and 2008, with the greatest resource use and morbidity due to self-ingestion of prescription products, including opioids, sedative-hypnotics, and cardiovascular agents, according to a study published online Sept. 16 in The Journal of Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text
Statins After Ischemic Stroke Not Tied to Brain Hemorrhage
FRIDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to statins after acute ischemic stroke is not associated with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), according to a study published online Sept. 12 in the Archives of Neurology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
CDC: MRSA USA300 Strain Resistant to Topical Antibiotics
FRIDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Most methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates are susceptible to bacitracin, but MRSA USA300 isolates show resistance to bacitracin and neomycin, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Full Text
Anti-Nausea Drug May Lead to Dangerous Heart Rhythms
THURSDAY, Sept. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Zofran (ondansetron), used to prevent nausea in patients receiving cancer treatment, is undergoing an ongoing safety review and labeling change by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because it may cause potentially fatal changes in heart rhythm, according to a Sept. 15 FDA safety alert.
More Information
CDC: Risk Factors ID'd in Most C. difficile Diarrhea Cases
THURSDAY, Sept. 15 (HealthDay News) -- The majority of patients with diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI) have recognized risk factors or a co-infection with another pathogen, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Full Text
CDC: Recent Influenza Activity Relatively Low
THURSDAY, Sept. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Influenza activity was relatively low worldwide over the summer of 2011, but vaccination remains an important criteria for keeping influenza under control and preventing potentially serious, even fatal, complications, according to two articles published in the Sept. 16 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Full Text 1
Full Text 2
Specific Pain Reduction Seen With Transdermal Buprenorphine
THURSDAY, Sept. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Transdermal buprenorphine, but not fentanyl, significantly reduces pain in experimentally induced bone-associated pain and primary hyperalgesia, according to a study published in the October issue of the British Journal of Pharmacology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Long-Term Nonaspirin NSAID Use Ups Renal Cell Cancer Risk
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Use of nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but not aspirin and acetaminophen, is associated with an increased risk of renal cell cancer (RCC), with increased duration of use correlated with an elevated risk, according to a study published in the Sept. 12 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Reduced Treatment Time Noninferior for Some With Hep C
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Sustained virologic response for some patients who have chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) was found to be noninferior when treating for 24 weeks versus 48 weeks, according to a study published in the Sept. 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
No Benefit of Long-Term Azithromycin for Rhinosinusitis
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with persistent chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), low-dose, long-term treatment with azithromycin (AZM) for 11 weeks offers no significant benefit, according to a study published online Sept. 2 in Allergy.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Many Mistakenly Believe FDA OKs Only Safe, Effective Drugs
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- A considerable proportion of the U.S. public mistakenly believes that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves only effective and safe drugs, but providing consumer explanations can lead to better drug choices, according to a study published in the Sept. 12 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Sorafenib Plus DEB-TACE Safe, Tolerated in Unresectable HCC
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), combined treatment with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with doxorubicin-eluting beads (DEB) and sorafenib is well tolerated and safe, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
Erectile Dysfunction Ups Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Erectile dysfunction (ED) significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality, according to a meta-analysis published in the Sept. 20 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Insulin Therapy May Slow Alzheimer's Progression
TUESDAY, Sept. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Intranasal administration of insulin may delay or improve cognitive decline, functional ability, and cerebral glucose metabolism in adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) or Alzheimer's disease, according to research published online Sept. 12 in the Archives of Neurology.
Abstract
Full Text
Dalcetrapib Use Safe, Possibly Beneficial in Atherosclerosis
TUESDAY, Sept. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Dalcetrapib is safe and reduces change in total vessel area and most-diseased-segment target-to-background ratio (TBR) as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT), according to a study published online Sept. 12 in The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Venlafaxine, Clonidine Reduce Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer
TUESDAY, Sept. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Venlafaxine and clonidine effectively manage hot flashes in patients with breast cancer, with hot flash scores reducing more immediately with venlafaxine than clonidine, and reducing more significantly with clonidine during week 12 of treatment than with venlafaxine, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
TNF Inhibitors for RA Do Not Increase Malignancy Risk
MONDAY, Sept. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) does not increase risk of malignancy, including lymphoma, but it may increase the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer and melanoma, according to a meta-analysis published online Sept. 1 in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Clopidogrel Adherence Tied to Daily Pre-PCI Med Adherence
MONDAY, Sept. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Low patient adherence to daily medication regimens before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a good predictor of low clopidogrel adherence after PCI, according to a study published in the Sept. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Opioid Delivery to Olfactory Region Ups Therapeutic Effects
FRIDAY, Sept. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Administration of opioids directly to the nasal olfactory region results in a larger fraction of drug being delivered to the central nervous system (CNS) and a significantly higher therapeutic effect without an increase in plasma drug exposure compared to drug delivery to the nasal respiratory region in rats, according to an experimental study published in the September issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Oxycodone No Safer Than Codeine During Breastfeeding
FRIDAY, Sept. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Neonates breastfed by mothers with postpartum oxycodone exposure have a higher incidence of central nervous system (CNS) depression than neonates breastfed by mothers exposed to codeine, according to a study published online Sept. 1 in The Journal of Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text
SAMHSA Assesses Recent Trends in Illicit Drug Use
THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- The use of illicit drugs and alcohol remained similar between 2009 and 2010, but was higher than in 2008, according to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, published Sept. 8 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at the start of the 22nd annual National Recovery Month held in September in United States.
Report
Comparative Efficacy Proposed for European Drug Approval
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- New drugs should be compared with existing treatments instead of placebo before their approval in Europe, according to a report published online Sept. 6 in the BMJ.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
FDA Announces Label Change to Warnings for TNFα Blockers
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Labels for all tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) blockers have been revised to include the risk of infection from Legionella and Listeria, according to a safety alert issued Sept. 7 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
More Information
Many Hospital Staff Uniforms Contaminated With Bacteria
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- More than 60 percent of hospital staff uniforms are contaminated with potentially pathogenic bacteria, including drug-resistant species, according to a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Gestational NSAID Intake Tied to Spontaneous Abortion Risk
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to any type or dosage of nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in early pregnancy increases the risk of spontaneous abortion, according to a study published online Sept. 6 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Hospitalized Children Exposed to Considerable Polypharmacy
TUESDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) -- A considerable proportion of hospitalized children are exposed to polypharmacy, with exposure to more drugs significantly more likely among those with rare conditions, according to a study published online Sept. 5 in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Immunoadsorption Therapy Effective in E. coli-Induced HUS
TUESDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Immunoadsorption of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies can safely be used to treat neurological complications in patients with Escherichia coli (E. coli) O104:H4-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), according to a study published online Sept. 5 in The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Vaccine Rates Increase Among Children Aged 11 to 12 Years
TUESDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Vaccine compliance at ages 11 to 12 years has increased among children, but they often do not receive all indicated vaccines during vaccination visits, according to a study published in the September issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Temp Staff Errors More Harmful Than Those of Permanent Staff
MONDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Emergency department medication errors associated with temporary staff are more likely to reach the patient and result in harm compared with errors associated with permanent staff, according to a study published in the July/August issue of the Journal for Healthcare Quality.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
FDA: New Contraindication, Updated Warning for Reclast
FRIDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- The drug label for Reclast (zoledronic acid) has been updated to reflect the risk of kidney failure, according to a safety alert issued Sept. 1 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
More Information
FDA: Antipsychotic Drug May Cause Severe Allergic Reaction
FRIDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- The drug label for Saphris (asenapine maleate), an antipsychotic medication, has been revised to warn of the risk of serious allergic reaction in patients with hypersensitivity to the drug, according to a safety alert issued Sept. 1 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
More Information
Simvastatin Neuroprotective for Spinal Cord Ischemia in Rats
FRIDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Simvastatin significantly reduces hindlimb motor dysfunction, and reduces white- and gray-matter injury 24 to 48 hours after reperfusion in rats with spinal cord ischemia, according to an experimental study published in the September issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Antibiotic Prescriptions Down for Pediatric Patients
FRIDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- The rate of antibiotic prescriptions flowing from pediatric offices has dropped by nearly a quarter since 1993, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this is not enough to address the problem of antibiotic resistance in the United States, according to a report published in the Sept. 2 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Full Text
Pediatric Vaccination Rates High in United States
THURSDAY, Sept. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Overall vaccination rates in children are high and have remained stable or have increased since 2009, though disparities persist among the economically underprivileged, according to a report published in the Sept. 2 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Full Text
Success With Valproic Acid for Glioblastoma With TMZ Therapy
THURSDAY, Sept. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with glioblastoma requiring antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) during temozolomide (TMZ)-based chemoradiotherapy have an improved overall survival with valproic acid (VPA) than with an enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drug (EIAED), according to a study published online Aug. 31 in Neurology.
Abstract
Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
